A neutral locking system for a vehicle includes a park release shaft and a neutral locking tool. The park release shaft is operatively connected to the transmission such that rotation of the park release shaft places the transmission in a neutral state. The tool is configured to couple to the park release shaft such that rotation of the tool rotates the park release shaft. The tool can also include a sliding locking pin having a first position allowing rotation of the tool within an engine compartment and a second position in which the pin contacts a component in the engine compartment to limit rotation of the tool.
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11. A neutral locking tool for a vehicle, comprising:
a main shaft having a lower end configured to nonrotatably and removably couple to an associated park release system of a vehicle for placing a transmission of the vehicle in a neutral position when rotated;
a handle portion extending from the main shaft at a location spaced apart from the lower end of the main shaft for facilitating rotation of the main shaft; and
a locking pin slidably mounted to the handle portion at a location spaced apart from the main shaft for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the locking pin in the raised position allowing rotation of the handle portion and thereby the main shaft, the locking pin in the lowered position preventing rotation of the handle portion and thereby preventing rotation of the main shaft, wherein the locking pin has an elongated portion defining a second vertical axis and a lower portion, the locking in rotatably mounted to the handle portion so as to be rotatable about the second vertical axis, the lower portion of the locking pin having an enlarged diameter relative to the elongated portion of the locking pin and further having an eccentric cam shape relative to the elongated portion of the locking pin whereby the eccentric cam shape has a central axis offset relative to an axis of the elongated portion for enabling precise rotation of the main shaft by rotating the locking pin.
1. A neutral locking system for a vehicle, comprising:
a park release shaft operatively connected to a transmission of the vehicle such that rotation of the park release shaft in a first rotatable direction places the transmission in a neutral state, the park release shaft located adjacent an aperture of a transmission case housing the transmission; and
a neutral locking tool including:
a main shaft with one end configured to nonrotatably and removably couple to the park release shaft such that rotation of the main shaft rotates the park release shaft;
a handle portion extending from the main shaft at a location spaced apart from the one end of the main shaft, the handle portion extending in approximate perpendicular relation relative to an elongated extent of the main shaft for facilitating rotation of the neutral locking tool when coupled to the park release shaft, and
a locking pin slidably received by the handle portion at a location spaced apart from the main shaft, the locking pin movable to a first position to allow rotation of the neutral locking tool within an engine compartment of the vehicle and a second position wherein the locking pin is positioned against a component within the engine compartment such that neutral locking tool is prevented from rotating in a second rotatable direction opposite the first rotatable direction until the locking pin is moved back toward the first position, wherein the locking pin has an elongated portion defining a second vertical axis and a lower portion, the locking pin rotatably mounted to the handle portion so as to be rotatable about the second vertical axis, the lower portion of the locking pin having an enlarged diameter relative to the elongated portion of the locking pin and further having an eccentric cam shape relative to the elongated portion of the locking in for enabling precise rotation of the main shaft by rotating the locking pin.
2. The neutral locking system of
3. The neutral locking system of
4. The neutral locking system of
5. The neutral locking system of
6. The neutral locking system of
7. The neutral locking system of
8. The neutral locking system of
9. The neutral locking system of
10. The neutral locking system of
12. The neutral locking tool of
13. The neutral locking tool of
14. The neutral locking tool of
an enlarged head at an upper end;
a resilient cover disposed at a lower end; and
a stopper disposed between and spaced apart from an upper end and a lower end of the locking pin, and spaced apart from the enlarged head and the resilient cover.
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Vehicle transmissions sometimes must be put into a neutral state in order for various service operations to be performed on the vehicle. In a manual transmission, this can be as simple as moving the manual shift lever to the neutral position. In one known manual transmission, a locking mechanism is provided for engaging the manual shift lever and holding or locking the shift lever in the neutral position so as to prevent the shift lever from inadvertently moving out of the neutral position. In automatic transmissions, a particular method and/or arrangement may be needed for the particular transmission that is to be placed into the neutral state.
According to one aspect, a neutral locking system for a vehicle includes a park release shaft and a neutral locking tool. The park release shaft is operatively connected to a transmission such that rotation of the park release shaft in a first rotatable direction places the transmission in a neutral state. The park release shaft is located adjacent an aperture of a transmission case that houses the transmission. The neutral locking tool has a main shaft with one end configured to nonrotatably and removably couple to the park release shaft such that rotation of the main shaft rotates the park release shaft.
According to one embodiment, the neutral locking tool can include a locking pin having a first position allowing rotation of the tool within an engine compartment and a second position in which the pin contacts a component in the engine compartment to limit rotation of the tool.
According to another aspect, a neutral locking tool for a vehicle includes a main shaft having a lower end configured to nonrotatably and removably couple to an associated park release system of a vehicle for placing a transmission of the vehicle in a neutral position when rotated and a handle portion extending from the main shaft at a location spaced apart from the lower end of the main shaft for facilitating rotation of the main shaft. The neutral locking tool further includes a locking pin slidably mounted to the handle portion at a location spaced apart from the main shaft for movement between a raised position and a lowered position. The locking pin in the raised position allowing rotation of the handle portion and thereby the main shaft. The locking pin in the lowered position preventing rotation of the handle portion and thereby preventing rotation of the main shaft.
According to a further aspect, a vehicle neutral locking system includes a park release shaft and a neutral locking tool. The park release shaft is operatively coupled to a transmission such that rotation of the park release shaft places the transmission in a neutral state. The neutral locking tool has a main shaft with one end configured to nonrotatably and removably couple to the park release shaft such that rotation of the neutral locking tool rotates the park release shaft.
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments and not for purposes of limiting same,
More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, a transmission case 22 houses the transmission 20 of the vehicle 12. As shown, the transmission case 22 can have an aperture 24 defined therein with the park release shaft 18 located adjacent the aperture 24 such that the park release shaft 18 is accessible. The park release shaft 18 is operatively connected to the transmission 20 such that rotation of the park release shaft 18 in a first rotatable direction (i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 4) places the transmission 20 into the neutral state. In the illustrated embodiment, a protuberance 26 in the shape of a block member is positioned on the transmission case 22, or a top wall thereof, and the aperture 24 is defined in the protuberance 26 through which the park release shaft 18 passes.
With additional reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end 62b includes an engaging member 70 slidably disposed on the park release rod 62 for engaging the parking pawl 64 which, in turn, causes the tooth 64a to engage and/or mesh with the parking gear teeth 68a. The engaging member 70 is urged away from the proximal end 62a by a coil spring 72 arranged between the engaging member 70 and a washer member 74 arranged on the park release rod 62 between the proximal and distal ends 62a, 62b. The sliding arrangement of the engaging member 70 on the park release rod 62 allows for smoother cooperation between the park release rod 62 and the parking pawl 64, particularly when the tooth 64a of the parking pawl 64 is not precisely aligned between two adjacent ones of the gear teeth 68a of the parking gear 68. A spring 76 can be connected to an arm portion 60b of the plate member 60 for biasing the plate member 60 and thereby the park release shaft 18 in a second rotatable direction (a rotatable direction opposite the first rotatable direction).
When the park release shaft 18 is rotated in the first rotatable direction, as illustrated in
As illustrated, the main shaft 16 of the neutral locking tool 14 can be elongated to facilitate the lower end 16a reaching the park release shaft 18, particularly in environments where the park release shaft projects a minimal amount from the transmission case 22 (e.g., as shown in
With additional reference to
The neutral locking tool 14 of the illustrated embodiment includes a handle portion 34 extending from the main shaft 16 at a location spaced apart from the lower end 16a (e.g., at an upper end 16b of the main shaft 16) for rotating the main shaft 16 and the park release shaft 18 when the lower end 16a is coupled to the park release shaft 18. In particular, the handle portion 34 of the illustrated embodiment is fixedly secured to the main shaft 16 at the upper end 16b thereof and can provide rotational leverage for rotating the main shaft 16 and thereby the park release shaft 18 of the transmission 20 against the urging provided by the transmission 20. As shown, the handle portion 34 can extend in approximate perpendicular relation relative to an elongated extent of the main shaft 16. This can facilitate rotation of the neutral locking tool 14 when coupled to the park release shaft 18.
The neutral locking tool 14 of the illustrated embodiment further includes a locking pin 36 slidably disposed on the handle portion 34 at a location spaced apart from the main shaft 16 in generally parallel relation to the main shaft 16. In particular, the locking pin 36 can be slidably received by the handle portion 34, and more specifically through an aperture 38 defined by the handle portion 34. Thus, as shown, the locking pin 36 is slidably disposed along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal extent of the main shaft 16. The locking pin 36 is moveable to a first sliding position (shown in
Accordingly, the main shaft 16 of the neutral locking tool 14 extends along this vertical axis of the park release shaft 18 when coupled to the park release shaft 18. The locking pin 36 is received through the aperture 38 in the handle portion 34 so as to be slidable along a second vertical axis that is offset laterally relative to the axis of the park release shaft 18. As shown, the locking pin 36 can include an enlarged head 40 at an upper end thereof and a rubber cover 42 disposed at a lower end thereof. The enlarged head 40 prevents axial movement of the locking pin 36 beyond the aperture 38. The rubber cover 42 prevents damage within the engine compartment 32, such as, for example, to the component 30 (which has been illustrated as an engine intake manifold). Optionally, the locking pin 36 can include a stopper 44 configured as radial protuberance adjacent an upper end of the rubber cover 42. Thus, the stopper 44 of the illustrated embodiment is disposed along the locking pin 36 between and spaced apart from upper and lower ends of the locking pin. The stopper 44 can function to prevent axial movement of the locking pin 36 relative to the handle portion 34 beyond the position of the stopper 44.
In the illustrated embodiment, and with particular reference to
To facilitate receipt of the keyed portion 18a within the slot 46 of the main shaft 16, the main shaft 16 can include a guide sleeve 48 disposed at the lower end 16a thereof that is configured to fit onto the park release shaft 18 extending upwardly from the transmission case 22. In particular, an inner diameter of the guide sleeve 48 can match or be only slightly larger than an outer diameter of the park release shaft 18, particularly at a location immediately below the keyed portion 18a.
With reference now to
Next, as shown at 52 in
In particular and with reference to
With reference now to
As shown, the handle portion 134 can be a telescoping handle portion having a first member 134a attached or secured to the main shaft 116 and a second member 134b slidably secured or telescopingly connected to the first member 134a for telescoping movement thereto (i.e., to enable telescoping movement of the second member 134b relative to the first member 134a). In the illustrated embodiment, the first member 134a has a sleeve-type configuration and the second member 134b is slidably received within the first member 134a. Telescoping movement enables the handle portion 134 to be adjustable to different lengths. In this embodiment, one of the first or second members 134a, 134b of the handle portion 134 can define a slot and the other of the first and second members 134a, 134b can include a pin that is slidably received in the slot to prevent relative rotation between the first and second members 134a, 134b of the handle portion and to limit the telescoping movement of the second member 134b relative to the first member 134a. In the illustrated embodiment, the first member 134a has a slot 80 defined therein that extends longitudinally along an axis of the first member 134a and the second member 134b has a pin 82 affixed thereto that is received in the slot 80. Cooperation between the slot 80 and the pin 82 functions to prevent relative rotation between the first and second members 134a, 134b and also functions to limit sliding movement of the second member 134b.
In addition to sliding movement of the locking pin 136 relative to the handle portion 134, the locking pin 136 is also rotatable about its axis as shown in
It is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of the features associated with the neutral locking tool 114 can be applied to the neutral locking tool 14 and vice versa. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that the features of either of the tools 14 and 114 can be mixed and matched in a neutral locking tool as desired. Further, it will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Dec 11 2012 | GALDEN, DARIC J | HONDA MOTOR CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029535 | /0997 | |
Dec 27 2012 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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